Hood for tanks and the like



Sept. 23, 1952 A. H. FINE Hoon' FOR TANKS AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1949 sept 23, 1952 A. H. FINE HOOD FR TANKS AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1949 f3?" WO1/Lew @www 5.

Patented Sept. 23, li952 2,611,509 I Y Hoon FORTANKS AND THE LIKE v Albert n. Fine, oak Pak, 111. Application February 23, 1949, Serial No. 77,820

'-Ihis invention relates to control equipment for bottled gas installations, and particularly-to enl' -The tanks that are thus provided are ordinarily mounted outside of the'building in which the gas is to be consumed, and to connect the `tanks to the connections that extend from the house, it is necessary to provide connecting ttings and valves for association with the two tanks of gas, together with suitable check valves and pressure reducing valves so that the high pressure gas from the containers may befed to the house line at a uniform reduced pressure. In order that the valve ttings that are thus required may be properly housed and protected, it is customary to afford anenclosing hood that `-may lne-locked in an enclosing relationby the workman after the tanks of gas have been putin ,place and properly connected to Vsuch supply t- .tings Heretofore it has beencustomaryto support suchwhoods on a special stand which is so constructed that the hood is supported at aheight tha-tfis determined by the size of the tanks that vare to' be associated therewith, such stands often affording a base upon which the tanks may be rested. Such stands have been found to berelativelyexpensve, and it is an important object of the present invention to simplify and reduce the lcost of the hood-structure foruse in connection .with bottled gas installations 1 of the aforesaid character. v,the present inventonto enable such hoods tobe More specifically, it is an object of supported in a novel v and expeditious manner rwithout the necessity for provision o f a stand in association-therewith; and a related object is to enable the bottles to act as the supporting struc- .ture for the hood, in a novel and. expeditious manner, to thereby simplify the structure andrevd uce the cost of such protectivehoods. Another object is toaiford a novel hood structur'e Aof theaforesaid character which will properly enclose the connecting fittings and'which may be supported ina novelmanner' by one .such sas Qontai-r1er` while ytheother; gassontaner is ber ingremoved'and-replaced.` 5

` 5 claims. (C1. 22o-85) A further object of my invention is to afford a hood which is effective to hold such gas containers in operative relation to each other in a novel andexpeditious manner. Yet another object is to provide hood which may be rmly secured to such gas containers in a vnovel and expeditious Amanner and may be quickly and easily releasedtherefrom.

Other and further objects of the present invention Vwill be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I-now consider to be the best mode in whichI have contemplated applying those principles. ,Otherembodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles maybe used vand structural changes may bemade as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended .OlemS- Inthe drawings:

Fie.l 1 is afront elevational view.y of a hood structure embodying the features of .t he invention;

. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview of the structure shown in 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view ofa portion of the device shown in Fig. 2, showing the parts in a different relationship;` l

Fig. 4 is atop plan view of thehood structure; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mounting plate that forms the bottom wall of the'enclosing' hood; Fi'g. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along Athe lines 6'-6 in Fig'. 4; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged end elevati'onal view of a portion of one end of the'hoo'd. The housing orhood 20 shown in the accompanying drawings to illustrate va preferred embodiment of my' invention, comprises, in general, abase plate' 22 adapted to ,be simultaneously mounted on two commercial gas containers such as, for example, bottles-Bl and-Bil, and 'a cover member 24 adapted to be removably and hingedly mounted on thebase plate 22 to aiforda protective covering or guardfor theupper end portion of such bottles and thevalves andotherttings normally mounted thereon when Ysuch bottles are muse.r

Asis best seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the base plate 22 is of substantially flat elongated formation and hastwo elongated, and transversely`, xtending recesses 2liv and 21 formed in the ppositeend vportions thereof, respectively, Fig.` 5, -t'heuslots V26 and 2,1 extending inwardly from .oriellateral edge tively narrow neck K, Fig. 2, .projecting outwardly from the upper end portion'thereofwon -which are mountedthe manually operatedV con'- trol valves V for controlling the flow' of gasi from the bottle. -In installations whereincommercial gasbottles of this character are commonlyused to supply fuel for stoves, andthe like, two-or more bottles of gas are customarilyconnected `through a common regulator R .toa feed line E through which gas iszfed to the consuming unit In such installations the gas is .normally used from only one bottle at a time, the control valve V on Ythat bottle being open and thecontrol valves on the, other bottles vbeing closed. When the gas is exhausted from the bottlefbeing used, the control -valve thereon-maybe closed andthe-control valve on the othenbottle'may then beopened to thereby afford a continuous supply of fuel gas while the exhausted bottle is being replaced. In such installations, the bottles affording the supply of gas are Voften disposed in relatively exposed places such as, for example, adjacent to the outside ofthe building in which the gas is being used,fand,-of

the gas containers being used, the stand commonly affording a base on which the bottles could be mounted. Such-stands are relatively expensive-to manufacture, and with my novel hood it is unnecessaryto use such outside supporting devices, the hood being adapted to be supported in a novel and expeditious manner on the bottles themselves.

As is best seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the base plate 22 may be mounted on the two-bottles Bl and B2, simultaneously, with the necks K of the bottles disposed in, and projecting upwardly through the slots 26 and 21, respectively, and with the bosses 30 and 3| restingvon the outwardly sloping another, and wherein the covermember i'sfeffecshoulders of the bottles.` Two nuts 65 and 66, l

having downwardly projecting flanges 65a and 66a, respectively, Fig. 2, are mounted on the necks of the bottles Bl and B2 in threaded engagement therewith and may be screwed down on the necks K into rm engagement with the upper surface of the plate 22 adjacent the slots 26 and 21, re-

Y aforesaid manner, and the nuts 65 and 66 screwed down on the necks K into tight retaining engagement with adjacent edge portionsof the base plate 22, 'the base plate is firmly held in properposition on the two bottles.

l After the base plate is thus mounted .on the bottles BI and B2, the cover memberf24 may be lowered vertically onto the base plate 22, into yclosed positionthereon, tothereby afford an efficient practical cover member for protecting the valves V and associated mechanism, the feed line F projecting outwardly vthrough a suitable one ofthe openings 48 or. 49, such as, for-example, the

openingA, Figs. V5 and 6. Thereafter. when it is 4necessary to remove one of the .bottles from-tthe installation and replace the samef'with -a fully chargedbottle, it is unnecessary to completely remove the cover 24 from the base plate22, itbeing merely necessary to pivot the covermember up- Awardly aboutv the end. thereof furthest removed from the :bottle to be replaced,l the hinge members on the cover memberand the base. plate 22 affording efficient means for supportingthe cover member in suchopen position .while the Aempty bottleiisV beingremoved and replaced with it wasl disposed; and, secondly, moving a .new

bottle into position in the slot 26.or 21, screwing the nut Y66 or 61 down thereon into firm engagement with the base plate 22, and then connecting the connections C to. the thus properly positoned new bottle. r After the replacement of the bottle has been-accomplished the covermember may again be pivoted: downintozclosed position on thebase-plate 22 to afford a. protectivecover for the upper endportions of thexbottle.

If desired, voutwardly projecting lugs 10V and 1l may be affordedv on the base plate 22 andthe cover member f 24, respectively, Lthe.. lugs. 10 and 1I having suitable openings 13 and 14, respec.- tively, throughiwhich a `suitable latchingdevice suchas, for example, a padlock, or the like, may be inserted to thereby retainthe cover memberin 'closed positionand prevent'its beingopened or removed from the base plate persons. f v.

From the foregoing itlwill be seen thatI'have afforded alnovel hood 'for commercial Agas 'cylinders and the likewhichlmay be readily mounted 22- byl unauthorized on, and supported by, the gas cylinders on which y it is to be used, and in vwhich gasY cylindersmay be quickly and easily replaced inanovel and expeditious manner. Y -1- l Also, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel hood iwherein, althoughthe cover member thereof is Areadily removable therefrom whendesired, itis unnecessary to completely remove the'cover member during a changeover from one bottle to Vtively -'restrained against undesired .lateral-.displacement from the bottles on which itis being supported. A

Furthermore, itrwill be seen that I have afforded a novel hood which is practical and eiiicient in operationand which may be readily and economically'produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated` and described the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, it is to be understoodthatthis is capable of .variation and modification and Itherefore do not wish vto be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself'of such changes and alterations as fall within the purviewof- .the following claims: v

Iclaim:

1. A hood of the type adapted to ,be placed over a pair of uid containers comprising, in combination; a base plate and a cover member, said base plate being `provided with atleastone vertical lug at each end thereof, an earpnsaid base plate adjacent the opposite endsthereof in association with each of said lugs. andpositioned rearwardly thereof,. each of said ears aen-,50e

7 having fa vertical yleg projecting. .upwardlylirom said iplate anda loiizontalfleg said horizontal -le'gsi extendingzrom said '.-yertical legszi-ni direction i.ofxthe .iendspf said plate and .terminating. short/.of their-associated lugs to-.'trereb-y denezlvertical passages: and small.V lListera-1'..:re- .icesses-ithereiifith; saidrcover, memherpcomprising end :sections projecting-.downwardly with' respect Yto saldi base plate, 'the distance between said .end sections being slightly Alessthan the'. distance .between saidlugs butslightly `greater than .the di'stanoe between; theterminal pointslof the :horizorital leg portlons;:of;.=said.ears whereby said'fend :sections of r said. denver; .member may .bez :freely Adisposed withiniandlivithdrawnfrom. saidbase plate passages; .arisen-1' on .eachgrofsaid .,end: sec- --tonsf positioned above .the terminal-points .f there- -oflandther'eby defining la, lowermostr intermediate .extensionon eachoflsaidend secttOnS; Said intermediate extensions being ofalength approxi- V:mating substantially ithelength :ofi .saidf lugs Awhereby said endxsectionsfniaybe disposed With- -insaid ,vertical :passages toianfextent .determined by theseatinglo said.cover..mernberf ears onsaid `base `plate lug-s.;1-each-ofI :the horizontal 'legs on said base plate; lear. being "of a .length fsuieient to .be-engageable with `'the -oorrespondingintermediate/.extension :When'zv thev .latteri ,is :rotated l'within its. lateralpreoessjas la .result lof pivoting lsa'id cover member at onefendfaboutvthe ralorum .established between thepcover ear andrbaseplate `2. .A1 hood yof; the type adapted toyoeused to cover..:the upperfendportions of apair o i -gas fcylin'ders or the .likecomprsing,infcembinatiom "a base rplate :having-vertical lugs symmetrically each having an upper leg portionextending'horil zontallyvvin the Vdirectionof said lugs-leotl`-termi- `lfiating short thereof, each-ofsaidearslhaying a ,second vertical leg Y Vportion Ir-om wvliic-hisaid horizontal leg-portion isA extended, the -body vportions of said lus-s end ears dening:.small lateral recessesand theterminal points-.of said lugsgand `said flrst-namedyleg :portions denns 'vertical'passagem said cover membe15havmgjan ear projecting -rom each of said side-sections and. displaced from the bottommosttterminal points thereof jadistance 'corresponding substantiallyto the lengthaofsaid lugsV to therebyv deiine a lowermost extension oneach of'isaidsidesections; said .,lowermost extensionsjj-being.freely vertically disposed within' saidpassages; .the first-named leg 'portions kof vsaid base L plate sears yrespectively.being ofxa lengthsuicient, to` be enigageable. with .a 'corresponding one of saiddowermost extensions .Whenthe latter is .rotated-,withirl its lateral. recess as a :resulto-f pivotingsaid cover member about the corresponding cover ear.

3. A hood of the type adapted to be placed over a pair of fluid containers. comprising,; in combination; a. base vplate and a Vbowl-shaped -cover vmember having a. topfs'ectionfand -.end.:sectionsf" tance between said lugs to permitsaid cover mem- Cil Las

ber. to .bdplaced en said plate-:gan earlprojectng upwardly' l adjacent either. end of .said-plate-gand beingA disposed "slightly rear'ivardlygofgandgbetween said. lugs.. each. .of saidl ears .being provided witlia horizontal; leg fportion extending in the idirection of Ssaidf. lugs 'but :terminating shortI thereof, the :disposition Tof. said lugs. and ears. tnerebydeining .at eithergendof,saidfplate a vertical passage and .a .'erossx-sectiona'l recess; anear projecting; Y, eachzfofssaidyend sections in thel planefoiaid base. plate and positioned vslghtlyfaboye 4the 4bot- Yt'ommost'.terminal points :of saidend seetions to thereby denezintermediateportions of saidend 'sectionssaid :intermediate portions being-freely retraotabiy disposediwithin said vertical passages .andjross-.sectional recesses gto an Lextent determined .'by l the vseating :of .said cover ears; 'en the freegends of said base.` plate A lugs; each of? said Jli.o'rizontal, :leg .pofrtions being of -a length-sof- .c'ient to interrupt andv limit' the -Irioverrier-it of said intermediate, portions .when the latter .1 are :rotated Within said recesses, thereby permitting said; "cover grnenrber te l be alternatively ,nivoted about; either end-to .expose a selected-one .of `containers. h .Y

. 4.a.: hood or .the 'type adapted-india 'il Vcover-tile 1upperend\,portionsj ora pairlo n tai-ners ,COmprising, ineombination a Y base plate and a] bowl-Vshapedcoi/ter.inernloer,` thedi'stance `.between the respective fdepend-ingue'nd sections' o the. lat-ter vvcorrespor-idingl approximately to' @the distance-between the 'ends .oi' said base plate-said v.plate and covervinert-mer eaeh ,comprising means to perini-ty the latter to` be alternately pn/folted about ,ei-ther end of lsaid platev to a limiting fposi- .tion to thereby expose oneof said ootaner's, said mea-ns comprising`;V ingsI projeotin'lgr` ,vertically a predetermined :distance .from e'asli of 'theespc- Y tive ends of saidplate, Ysaid, lues 'be-ina symmetri- :crally-disposed iii spaced. ,relationship .with respect toene-another, ears ateach endofls'aid'pla' ,as-

sociated with and positioned rearwardly rofl lugs and having-horizontal leg portiorisextenll- `ing `in i the directionalV the plane of base but terminating rearwardil-y.or the yertieal beiten- -sions of said assooiatedglngs tov-thereby with -.said lugs passa-gestor iree-insertionof the respective Vend sections o1"V saidy cover member, therein; and ears projeetinglaterally from the; enjd'fseo- .tionsz'of said cove-r member-said .cover'fneember ears being i displaced upwardly 1r jir r1` Y tliefbottdm- 'most terminal-points of -saidf'side-sections -a distance approximatingethe length ,or said to thereby define intermediate; port-ions; .oi said side sections, l said :intermediate portions being ldisposable Withiny Vsaid sci-defined passages.. .to an extent determinedby thel seating-:of .said -over ears on thefree ends 0iysaid. base- .plate lug-s;

lWl-iereby saidcover memberjcan'be pivoteolonl a vse'leetedxone'vo: said :cover v*ears*about anfend of .said-.base 'plate 'to extent-limited by engagement between .the vinte'rloediate port-ion of oneri-of saidiend sectionsizanrxthe `leg*portion o one-of said baseplateears.'

I ."A-ihood -ofi the 'adaptedto bensedfto .cover .thepupper end portions oi. ak pair-ef gas :cy-linders or the like comprisingfin combinationsan elongated `base plate and; 1 anelongated i bowlshapedcovermernber complementary fin outline to'lsaidaplate; said base plate-having respectlfely at each endf thereon` a: pair :of .lugs projectingqvertical'ly.. therefrozm and .an associated ear positioned between` the lugs Foi vsaid; 4resp active; pairs Y. of Vvlugs, i each'of 'said-ears '.oomprising :a iirstxleg portion 4proj eating vertically upward with respect 9 to said plate, and a second leg portion extending horizontallyin the direction of said lugs but terminating s 'ho'ijt thereof whereby the terminal ends of said lugsa'nd said associated ear denne a vertical passage; 'said cover member being mounted over said base plate and comprising, a top having end sections 'depending therefrom, the distance between said vend sections being less than the distance between said lugs but being greater than the distance between the free ends of said secondnamed legs, an ear projecting laterally from each end sections, said tongue portions being disposed-'l within the passages deiined by the terminal endsof said lugs and said associated ear to an extefnt determined by the seating of said cover ears the free terminal ends of said respective pairs 'of 20 base plate lugs; the length of each of said hoie zontal leg portions being such as to limit the movement of the corresponding tongue-like portion to a predetermined extent when the latter is 5 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 479,936 Foster Aug. 2, 1892 572,217 Rebmann Dec. l, 1896 1,589,507 Bond June 22, 1926 1,842,603 Gray Jan. 26, 1932 15 1,960,057 Langleyl May 22, 1934 2,011,675 Cawood Aug. 20, 1935 2,168,604 Lee Aug. 8, 1939 2,406,521 Wiggins Aug. 27, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 293,686 Italy Feb. 29, 1932 594,404 France June 20, 1925 

